DOMAT/EMS Kreisel

Switzerland

Design of roundabout at the entrance of Domat/Ems in Graubunden, Switzerland. The logo of the city has been carved into the high clay walls, and greets the visitor when entering the city. The blazon and the letters on the clay structure are designed and engraved in the clay with extraordinary ability by the hands of the artisans working at Atelier Vierkant. Their experience in molding perfect curves succeed in creating a play of different thickness where the natural light can highlight the contouring lines of each line of the city coat-of-arms making it clearly visible to the incoming visitors of the city. The functional structure optimizes the available space while keeping a link with the surrounding natural environment. The project takes inspiration from the colors of grey and green and from the shapes of the rocks of the Alps. Such a strong hint at the Alpine heritage is not only reflected by the blason engraved in the clay walls, but also by the bell-shaped lights that resembles the bronze bells hanging from the necks of native cattle.